Materials Solutions & Applications

Polymers as a replacement for metal

Materials

High-filled and highly reinforced materials

Polymers as a replacement for metal

Metals are replaced by polymers more and more often. In addition to the high chemical resistance, above-all the low density of the polymers is primarily a huge advantage with regard to saving weight.

However, the rigidity of the materials must stand up to the challenges of the application. Through the use of carbon fibres or carbon fibre fabric, our materials can be modified in such a manner that their rigidity reaches that of metals.

Background

Materials

Material catalog

Background

Compared with basic polymers, high-performance polymers have an inherent higher rigidity. In particular, thermoplastic high-performance polymers such as polyarylketones (e.g. PEEK or polyphenylene sulphide) can trump with a high E-module and high tensile strength. To be able to use polymers to replace metals, a lot more is needed as the rigidity of metals is considerably higher than that of native high-performance polymers.

Hot Compression Molding

To increase the rigidity of the materials, hard coal, carbon fibres, but also fabric mats consisting of carbon fibres are inserted into the high-performance polymers. Here, mechanical properties which come very close to those of metal materials can be achieved, in particular at high to very high filling levels. STASSKOL has developed the decisive processing method for this with its Hot Compression Moulding. Filling levels in excess of 50 vol.-% can be realised using it, meaning that the majority of the material consists of filling materials. An advantageous side-effect of the strongly increased rigidity of the polymers is the reduction of their thermal expansion.

You can find some of the recipes from our standard range below. Alternatively, we are happy to advise you when selecting the right material solution for your application.

Selected materials

Thanks to the application of a special manufacturing process, STASSKOL high-performance polymers have outstanding properties.

Material	Additives	Properties
ESKAFLON 449	PTFE, carbon, inorganic	Highest filled PTFE with very low, excellent thermal wear and tear resistance
ESKAPEEK 904	PEEK, carbon fibres	Carbon-fibre-reinforced PEEK with very good wear and tear resistance
ESKASINT 9404	Polyimide, carbon fibres	Carbon-fibre-reinforced polyimide with a high service temperature limit

The material makes the difference

Tensile strength, wear rates, surface resistance and thermal expansion coefficients, these are all performance indicators which can be influenced decisively by using optimum material. That is why STASSKOL has carried out intense research and developments in the field of high-performance polymers for several decades and does so successfully.

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For technical and commercial enquiries, the staff of STASSKOL GmbH will of course be happy to assist you.

Materials Solutions & Applications

Polymers as a replacement for metal

Materials

High-filled and highly reinforced materials

Polymers as a replacement for metal

Background

Hot Compression Molding

Selected materials

The material makes the difference

Customer Feedback

We are happy to advise you

Julian Große-Segerath

Germany, Austria, Switzerland

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